William HOLTSCLAW was born in bluegrass region, Kentucky, August 19, 1826. He died Feb. 14, 1911, at the home of his son, Jasper, at Solsberry, aged eighty-four years, five months and twenty-five days. His parents brought him to Greene County, Indiana, at the age of two years, where he remained a citizen until his death. He grew to manhood under the influence of a rather frontier life. When young he labored for others, finally working at the Furnace under the DOWNING management and ownership. Not long after which he was married to Elizabeth Ann STALCUP, a daughter of one of the first surveyors of the county–Hance STALCUP. The marriage occurred December 25, 1850. He then began life on a farm then in woods. Here were born unto the parents seven children: Jasper HOLTSCLAW, of Solsberry; James N. HOLTSCLAW and Mrs. Sarah M. CAIN, of Heaton, Mrs. Jennie PHILLIPS, of Bloomfield, and Mrs. Hester A. BINGHAM, of Fresno, California, the two younger children dying in infancy. He had thirty-seven grandchildren, six of whom are dead, also thirty great-grandchildren, three of whom are dead. His grandfather Holtsclaw was of German ancestry, a man of masculine quality and mental solidarity, the great-grandfather possessing the same characteristics. (While teaching at Hardinsburg, Indiana, Jasper HOLTSCLAW, son of the deceased, met a German, who gave much information regarding German relatives. This German was well acquainted with the people.) During the earlier days of the deceased's life, it took great physical endurance to meet the then conditions of life. To the boy of average conditions poor opportunities existed for an education. Long after his marriage when he was in comparatively easy circumstances, he attended night schools in an old school house , in the American Bottom. Here he laid the foundation for what mathematics he had. This school, however, did not shape his after intellectual conditions, but it was his thirst for history, the Bible and philosophic lines of thinking that caused him to do his intellectual work. He used his noon hours and rest spells in studying history, the Bible and history of religions. He read all original scientists and all great authors he could get hold of. He never wearied of reading. He would tax his strong constitution in pushing his reading. He saw the time when he could almost say the Bible as a recitation. After the study of this book, he began the study of ancient history, with which he became very familiar. He was also quite conversant with modern history. Few men possessed the historical knowledge of this man and this becomes emphasized when it is known that he was self taught. His capacious memory seemed to hold all he read. He now turned his attention to the history of religions, becoming almost an adept in this line. At his death he was practically a Unitarian. Intellectual men would converse with him for hours upon his chosen themes. He was a great talker and never had any difficulty in attracting auditors in his chosen field. Some of these men were quite learned and enjoyed him. Traveling men of the reading type made it a point to meet him as often as convenient. Bloomfield has been a trading place, more or less, for sixty-one years after marriage. Here he had formed lasting friendship with the honorable of all classes, many of whom were exceptionally steadfast friends. Bloomfield was home to him. He was happy here with his friends. He was a soldier in the Mexican war, being a private in Company E, Second Regiment, Indiana Volunteers. He was the last soldier in Greene County of Rousseau's command. His father was in the battle of New Orleans and in the battle of the Thames of the war of 1812. He was laid to rest by the side of his wife in the Walnut Grove cemetery, Wednesday, Feb. 15, 1911.